Assembly passes family planning funds — without veto-proof majority

Following a lengthy and at times tense debate in which Assemblywoman Linda Stender and Assemblyman Jay Webber engaged in some sharp exchanges over abortion, the Assembly this morning approved legislation adding $7.5 million to the state budget for family planning services.

That sends the bill to Gov. Chris Christie, who last week declined in a Q&A with reporters to explain why he wouldn’t agree to restore funds for family planning services, which are being zeroed out in the FY2011 budget.

If Christie vetoes the bill, it lacks the veto-proof majority in the Assembly it enjoyed in the Senate. The Assembly vote was 42-22 with 13 voting to abstain. It’s conceivable if matters come to an override vote that the Assembly could be placed “under call,” which means — among other things — that lawmakers who vote to abstain could be recorded as having opposed the bill.